Verbascum plant named &#39;plum smokey&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Verbascum  plant characterized by numerous red purple colored flowers on numerous short, upright flowering stems, a compact habit, and excellent vigor.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Verbascum hybrid ((V. phoeniceum×dumulosum)×V. phoeniceum)

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Plum Smokey’

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofVerbascum hybrid, and given the cultivar name ‘Plum Smokey’. Verbascumis in the family Scrophulariaceae.

This new cultivar originated from a cross between Verbascum ‘Jackie’ asthe seed parent and an unnamed selection of Verbascum phoeniceum as thepollen parent. Verbascum ‘Jackie’ is an unpatented plant and a crossbetween Verbascum phoeniceum and Verbascum dumulosum.

This new Verbascum hybrid is unique in its red purple flower colorcombined with its Verbascum ‘Jackie’-like compact habit and short,multiple flowering stems.

This plant is characterized by the following:

-   -   1. Large purple red flowers.    -   2. Numerous upright, branching flowering stems.    -   3. Compact habit.    -   4. Short flowering stems.    -   2. Excellent vigor.

This new cultivar has been reproduced only by asexual propagation(division and tissue culture). Each of the progeny exhibits identicalcharacteristics to the original plant. Asexual propagation by divisionand tissue culture using standard micropropagation techniques withterminal and lateral shoots, as done in Canby, Oreg., shows that theforegoing characteristics and distinctions come true to form and areestablished and transmitted through succeeding propagations. The presentinvention has not been evaluated under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary with changes in environment without achange in the genotype of the plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The photograph shows the whole plant of Verbascum ‘Plum Smokey’ grown inthe trial field in bloom in July.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new Verbascum selectionbased on observations of one-year-old specimens grown in the ground infull sun under typical outdoor conditions in the field in Canby, Oreg.Canby is Zone 8 on the USDA Hardiness map. Temperatures range from ahigh of 95 degrees F. in August to 32 degrees F. in January. Normalrainfall in Canby is 42.8 inches per year. The color descriptions areall based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart.

-   Botanical classification: Verbascum hybrid ((V.    phoeniceum×dumulosum)×V. phoeniceum).-   Variety denomination: ‘Plum Smokey’.-   Plant:    -   -   Type.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Form.—Clumping basal rosette.        -   Hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zones 5-9.        -   Size.—15 to 20 cm tall and 35 cm wide, not including            inflorescence.        -   Vigor.—Excellent.        -   Roots.—With one main tap root, and many fibrous lateral            branches, White 155A.        -   Stem.—Much congested, 1 cm deep and wide with no space            between internodes.-   Leaf:    -   -   Type.—Simple. Evergreen.        -   Arrangement.—Basal, with 21 to 35 leaves.        -   Shape.—Ovate, sometimes fold or cup up or down from main            vein.        -   Blade size.—Grows to 20 cm long and 11.5 cm wide.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Margins.—Irregularly crenate overall and toothed near base.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Surface Texture.—Leathery, rugose, with stellate hairs on            both upper and lower surfaces.        -   Petiole.—with 1 to 3 leaf-like appendages, 1 to 1.5 cm long            and 0.6 to 0.8 cm wide. Length — 5 cm. Width — Grows to            1 cm. Surface texture — Stellate. Color — Yellow Green 145C.        -   Leaf color.—Abaxial — Deep green. Green 137A with lighter            main vein, Yellow Green 145D. Adaxial — Between Yellow Green            147B and Green 137C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Panicle.        -   Total panicle size.—39 cm wide and 33 cm high (just the            flowers).        -   Number of panicles per plant in first flush.—16.        -   Cauline leaves.—5 to 8 in number, 3.5 to 6.5 cm long and 2.5            to 3.2 cm wide, with an acute tip and cuneate base, margins            irregularly crenate overall and toothed near base, upper            surface is Green 137A with a lighter main vein, Yellow Green            145D and the lower surface is between Yellow Green 147B and            Green 137C.        -   Flower number.—Count of 275 flowers on main panicle.        -   Peduncle.—Height — 47 cm. Diameter — 0.8 cm. near base.            Surface texture — Stellate. Color — Yellow Green 146C.        -   Pedicel.—Length — 1.5 cm. Surface texture — Glandular hairs.            Color — Yellow Green 146A.        -   Bloom time.—July to September in Canby, Oreg.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—1 cm. wide and 0.7 cm. deep.        -   Description.—Pentagonal cushion.        -   Surface.—Sparsely glandular.        -   Color.—Purple 79A.-   Flower:    -   -   Type.—Perfect. Complete. Irregular.        -   Shape.—Rotate, irregular, short tubular.        -   Size.—4.5 cm wide and 1 cm deep including stamens.        -   Color.—Purplish Red, between Purple 77A and Red Purple 70C.            Small eye in a ring around stamens and pistil is Yellow            Orange 19C to D.        -   Corolla.—Petal description — 5 lobes, broadly obovate,            margin entire, tip obtuse, base cuneate. Size — 4.5 cm wide            and 0.3 cm deep. Surface — Backs sparsely glandular, upper            surface glabrous.        -   Calyx.—Sepal description — Stellate, with 5 lobes, each lobe            lanceolate with entire margins and an acuminate tip. Size —            Grows to 1.2 cm. wide and 0.2 to 0.5 cm. deep. Surface —            Glandular hairs on both upper and lower surfaces Color —            Yellow Green 146A on both upper and lower surfaces.        -   Stamens.—Number — 5. Filaments — 0.8 to 0.9 cm. long, Yellow            Orange 17A at base and heavily bearded Purple 83B on lower            two stamens and Purple 83B topped with White 155A on upper            three stamens. Anthers — Kidney shaped. Black 202A before            dehiscence, 2 mm long Pollen — Orange 25A, abundant in            quantity.        -   Pistil.—Number — 1 Style — 1.9 cm long, Red Purple 70A.            Stigma — Blunt, Yellow Green 146C. Ovary — Yellow Green            146C.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Fertility: Sterile, no fruit or seed produced.-   Disease and pests: None observed on plants grown commercially in    Canby, Oreg. Powdery mildew and fungal leaf spot are possible.    Verbascum are susceptible to caterpillars.

COMPARISONS

This new cultivar is very similar in growth habit and flowering habit toVerbascum ‘Jackie’ (unpatented). The greatest difference is the flowercolor. V. ‘Jackie’ is described as having copper colored buds, whichopen to pale peach colored flowers and lavender stamens. The newcultivar Verbascum ‘Plum Smoky’ has red purple flowers and the same goodqualities of numerous flowering stems, short flowering stems, andcompact habit.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbascum plant as herein illustratedand described.